Fuse attachment.



C. C. MYRICK.

FUSE ATTACHMENT. ArPL'IcA'non rILnn JAN. 18, 1910.

Patented Aug. 23,1910.

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UNITED STA -Es PATENT OFFICE.

Y CLIFFORD o. MYBIGK, or GLOBE, Anizoiva' TERRITORY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD G. MYRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Globe, in the county of Gila and Territory of Arizona, have invented a certain new and useful Fuse Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fuse attachment, and has particular reference to a water-proof seal and an igniter for the free end of fuses.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a fuse igniter which may be adapted to any size of fuse and which when applied insures the same absolutely against the entrance of water and moisture.

Previously, igniters have been devised which consists of metallic shells or inflammable tubes provided with a powder charge, the tubes being arranged to fit over and engage the fuse for a portion of the length thereof. It has been found, however, by actual experiment, that such tubes after being fitted over the fuse ends do not engage the same with sufficient tightness to exclude water or moisture, this being principally due to either irregularity of the fuse body to which the tubes cannot conform on account of their stifi'ness, or to variations in the manufacture. For this reason, igniters composed of stiff, though flexible material, do not in themselves form waterproof seals, consequently rendering it necessary to crimp or otherwise cause a closer union of the tube with the fuse, or by placing parafiin on the bottom of the tube and at the joint between the fuse and the igniter. Furthermore such resilient lighters for fuses are not adaptable to fuses which vary in diameter, hence igniters of this type must be manufactured in different sizes to correspond with the differently gaged fuses.

This invention therefore, has for its further object, the provision of a fuse lighter which is universally adaptable to all makes of fuses, easily applied, and which forms an absolute seal for the flee end of a fuse regardless of its size, and a positive igniter.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of the features, details of construction and combination of parts described in connection with the. accompanying drawing and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1, is an elevation of my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical sec- Fuss ATTACHMENT.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Application filed January 18, 1910. Serial No. 538,753.

1 tion 'showing'the rubber sheath folded, and the powder charge held thereby, in contact with the end of the fuse. Fig. 3, is an elevation showing the sheath in section and extended over a portion of the fuse. Fig. 4, is an elevation of the powder charge, and Fig. 5, is a sectional elevationshowing the invention as used in connection with a high explosive cap.

The invention consists, as shown in the drawing, of a sheath 1, of elastic material, preferably rubber, closed at one end, as seen at 2, the said sheath being normally coiled upon itself in several convolutions 3, forming, when so coiled, a ring 4. A powder charge 5, shown in Fig. 4, is arranged to be inserted ,in said folded or coiled sheath 1, and this powder charge consists of a head 6, a neck 7, and abase 8. The head 6, of said powder charge is pressed into the coiled ring 4, imtil it protrudes slightly beyond the same, causing thereby the contiguous end 2 of the sheath to be expanded and stretched over the head 6. I The rubber, being in this manner considerably thinned, is readily charge of powder, while at the same time effectively preventing the ingress or penetration of water or moisture to the charge.

'During the insertion of the head 6, of the powder charge the ring 4, is dilated, but contracts immediately when the head has passed through the central portion of the ring, and snugly engages the neck portion 7 of the powder charge. Being then in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the coil or ring 4, lying between the head 6 and the base 8, holds the powder charge firmly in place, and itself is prevented from becoming disengaged. In Fig. 2, the coiled sheath containing the charge of powder, is shown in position preparatory to unfolding the convolutions over the fuse 9. The said powder charge there shown is of the same width or size as the fuse to which it is applied, but the size of the powder charge is immaterial so long as the general structure of the same is such that the waterproofing material used in conjunction therewith is securely held thereby.

Since the elastic sheath is considerably smaller in diameter than the fuse over which it is to be fitted or unfurled, it is obvious that the engagement of the same is snug at all points, and will always be regardless of the irregularity of the fuses.

Hence the seal for the free end of the fuse V resist fusion; hence ignition of the charge and the powder in the powder duct is practically instantaneous.

lVhile I have explained in the foregoing, that the device is adaptable to the free end of fuses to initially combust the powder in the powder duct, it is equally adaptable to the other end of the fuse, which generally is fitted with a high explosive cap, usually containing fulminate of mercury, and which cap lies embedded in or in close contact with a body of dynamite. Such adaptation is shown in Fig. 5.. In that view, the fulminate of mercury charge 11, is contained in a metallic, gelatinous or other suitable shell 12, provided with a head 13, a neck 1e and an expanded base 15, the said base being open and the powder 11, extending to a hne even with the terminus of said base. Said metallic or other shell 12, containing the high explosive charge, is arranged to be contained in a rubber or other elastic waterproof sheath 16, which, when folded or coiled upon itself, forms a ring similar to the ring shown in Fig. 1, and which ring normally rests in the neck portion 14, of the shell whereby it is securely held in place. hen in use the ring is unfolded over the fuse end 17, and the mercury or other high explosive charge is in position for use.

This means of securing to the end of a fuse, a dangerously high explosive has been devised primarily to eliminate the dangers attendant upon the use of metal or rigid caps, which, fitting but loosely the fuse end, do not exclude water, and consequently 7 must be crimped or otherwise securely fixed to the fuse end. Many miners improvidently use their teeth to crimp these caps while others employ crimping tools. In both cases the crimping has been followed by disastrous results, and it has been found that this meansis the only successful one for eliminating the necessity for crimp-ing.

that I claim, is

1. An attachment for fuses, comprising an elastic sheath closed at one end and normally coiled upon itself to form a ring, and a powder pellet between said closed end and said ring, said pellet being securely held in position by said ring.

2. A sheath of elastic waterproof material coiled upon itself to form a contractile ring, and a powder charge having a recess, said ring normally lying in snug contact with said recess to hold said powder charge I in position.

3. A sheath of rubber closed at one end and coiled upon itself to form a contractile ring, and a powder charge in said ring and having one end thereof incased by said sheath, said powder charge being provided with a recess forming a seat for said contractile ring.

4. A recessed powder charge, in combination with a rubber sheath coiled upon itself to form a ring, said powder charge being for a portion of its length incased by said sheath, the coiled portion of said sheath being arranged to lie in and snugly engage the recess of said powder charge.

5. A powder charge having a central recess, in combination with a sheath fitting in. said recess.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLIFFORD C. MYRICK.

WVitnesses:

F. J. MoCLARY, ANTON GLOETZNER, Jr. 

